Patient sleep therapy self management tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for use in conjunction with a pressure support system that is structured to provide therapy to a patient to treat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient. The tool may be implemented on a portable electronic device or a PC and is configured to, among other things, provide customized/personalized education and feedback to the patient based, at least in part, on data that is measured by the pressure support system during the provision of therapy to the patient. The tool utilizes certain patient/therapy metrics, wherein each patient/therapy metric comprises raw data that was measured by the pressure support system and that has been processed (e.g., summarized and/or otherwise manipulated) to form the patient/therapy metric.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. National Phaseapplication under 35 U.S.C. §371, Ser. No. 14/405,589, filed on Dec. 4,2014, which claims the benefit of International Application Serial No.PCT/IB2013/054739, filed on Jun. 10, 2013, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Application Ser. No. 61/657,204, filed on Jun. 8, 2012. Theseapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems for treating conditions, suchas sleep disordered breathing, using positive airway pressure (PAP)therapy, and in particular to a tool configured to, among other things,provide customized/personalized education and feedback to the patientrelating to their therapy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many individuals suffer from disordered breathing during sleep. Sleepapnea is a common example of such sleep disordered breathing suffered bymillions of people throughout the world. One type of sleep apnea isobstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a condition in which sleep isrepeatedly interrupted by an inability to breathe due to an obstructionof the airway; typically the upper airway or pharyngeal area.Obstruction of the airway is generally believed to be due, at least inpart, to a general relaxation of the muscles which stabilize the upperairway segment, thereby allowing the tissues to collapse the airway.Another type of sleep apnea syndrome is a central apnea, which is acessation of respiration due to the absence of respiratory signals fromthe brain's respiratory center. An apnea condition, whether obstructive,central, or mixed, which is a combination of obstructive and central, isdefined as the complete or near cessation of breathing, for example a90% or greater reduction in peak respiratory air-flow.

Those afflicted with sleep apnea experience sleep fragmentation andcomplete or nearly complete cessation of ventilation intermittentlyduring sleep with potentially severe degrees of oxyhemoglobindesaturation. These symptoms may be translated clinically into extremedaytime sleepiness, cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary-artery hypertension,congestive heart failure and/or cognitive dysfunction. Otherconsequences of sleep apnea include right ventricular dysfunction,carbon dioxide retention during wakefulness, as well as during sleep,and continuous reduced arterial oxygen tension. Sleep apnea sufferersmay be at risk for excessive mortality from these factors as well as byan elevated risk for accidents while driving and/or operatingpotentially dangerous equipment.

Even if a patient does not suffer from a complete or nearly completeobstruction of the airway, it is also known that adverse effects, suchas arousals from sleep, can occur where there is only a partialobstruction of the airway. Partial obstruction of the airway typicallyresults in shallow breathing referred to as a hypopnea. A hypopnea istypically defined as a 50% or greater reduction in the peak respiratoryair-flow. Other types of sleep disordered breathing include, withoutlimitation, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and vibration of theairway, such as vibration of the pharyngeal wall, commonly referred toas snoring.

It is well known to treat sleep disordered breathing by applying acontinuous positive air pressure (CPAP) to the patient's airway. Thispositive pressure effectively “splints” the airway, thereby maintainingan open passage to the lungs. It is also known to provide a positivepressure therapy in which the pressure of gas delivered to the patientvaries with the patient's breathing cycle, or varies with the patient'sbreathing effort, to increase the comfort to the patient. This pressuresupport technique is referred to as bi-level pressure support, in whichthe inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) delivered to the patientis higher than the expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP). It isfurther known to provide a positive pressure therapy in which thepressure is automatically adjusted based on the detected conditions ofthe patient, such as whether the patient is experiencing an apnea and/orhypopnea. This pressure support technique is referred to as anauto-titration type of pressure support, because the pressure supportdevice seeks to provide a pressure to the patient that is only as highas necessary to treat the disordered breathing.

Pressure support therapies as just described involve the placement of apatient interface device including a mask component having a soft,flexible sealing cushion on the face of a patient. The mask componentmay be, without limitation, a nasal mask that covers the patient's nose,a nasal/oral mask that covers the patient's nose and mouth, or a fullface mask that covers the patient's face. Such patient interface devicesmay also employ other patient contacting components, such as foreheadsupports, cheek pads and chin pads. The patient interface device isconnected to a gas delivery tube or conduit and interfaces the pressuresupport device with the airway of the patient, so that a flow ofbreathing gas can be delivered from the pressure/flow generating deviceto the airway of the patient.

With the explosive growth of sophisticated portable electronic devices,such as smartphones and tablet PCs, and the increasingly user friendlyoperating systems that they employ, patients throughout the world areincreasingly gaining the ability to easily obtain and share information,such as educational information, and communicate with health careproviders. It would thus be advantageous to provide, and there is thus aneed for, a system and tool that provides patients the ability to take amore active role in the management of their sleep disordered breathingcondition, and therapy being provided using a pressure support system,using their portable electronic device, or, alternatively, a PC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a method of providing information to a patient isprovided, wherein the patient uses a pressure support system structuredto provide therapy to the patient to treat a condition of the patient bydelivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient. The method includesreceiving in a computing device first information identifying one ormore particular components of the pressure support system, receiving inthe computing device second information identifying a data connectionmethodology by which data measured by the pressure support system duringthe provision of therapy is to be transferred from the pressure supportsystem to a location where the data is processed, and displaying thirdinformation on a display of the computing device, the third informationbeing one of: (i) information relating to use of or care for thepressure support system, (ii) information relating to transferring thedata from the pressure support system, and (iii) information relating toone or more solutions for problems relating to use of the pressuresupport system, the third information being selected based on either oneor both of the first information and the second information.

In another embodiment, a computing device configured to provideinformation to a patient is provided, wherein the patient uses apressure support system structured to provide therapy to the patient totreat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow of breathing gasto the patient. The computing device includes a display and a processorapparatus including a processor and a memory, the memory storing one ormore routines executable by the processor, the one or more routinesbeing adapted to: receive first information identifying one or moreparticular components of the pressure support system, receive secondinformation identifying a data connection methodology by which datameasured by the pressure support system during the provision of therapyis to be transferred from the pressure support system to a locationwhere the data is processed, and display third information on thedisplay, the third information being one of: (i) information relating touse of or care for the pressure support system, (ii) informationrelating to transferring the data from the pressure support system, and(iii) information relating to one or more solutions for problemsrelating to use of the pressure support system, the third informationbeing selected based on either one or both of the first information andthe second information.

In another embodiment, a method of providing information to a patient isprovided, wherein the patient uses a pressure support system structuredto provide therapy to the patient to treat a condition of the patient bydelivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient. The method includesestablishing in a computing device a goal based on a patient/therapymetric relating to treatment using the pressure support system,obtaining in the computing device patient/therapy metric data, whereinthe patient/therapy metric data is formed by processing data measured bythe pressure support system during the provision of therapy to thepatient, and displaying goal information on a display of the computingdevice, the goal information indicating progress toward the goal andbeing based on the patient/therapy metric data.

In still another embodiment, a computing device configured to provideinformation to a patient is provided, wherein the patient uses apressure support system structured to provide therapy to the patient totreat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow of breathing gasto the patient. The computing device includes a display, and a processorapparatus including a processor and a memory, the memory storing one ormore routines executable by the processor, the one or more routinesbeing adapted to: establish a goal based on a patient/therapy metricrelating to treatment using the pressure support system, obtainpatient/therapy metric data, wherein the patient/therapy metric data isformed by processing data measured by the pressure support system duringthe provision of therapy to the patient, generate goal information, thegoal information indicating progress toward the goal and being based onthe patient/therapy metric data, and cause the display to display thegoal information.

In yet another embodiment, a method of reporting information relating touse by a patient of a pressure support system structured to providetherapy to the patient to treat a condition of the patient by deliveringa flow of breathing gas to the patient is provided. The method includesobtaining patient/therapy metric data in a computing device separatefrom the pressure support system, wherein the patient/therapy metricdata is formed by processing data measured by the pressure supportsystem during the provision of therapy to the patient, and automaticallygenerating in the computing device an electronic message fortransmission out of the computing device based on the patient/therapymetric data.

In still another embodiment, a computing device configured to reportinformation relating to use by a patient of a pressure support systemstructured to provide therapy to the patient to treat a condition of thepatient by delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient isprovided. The computing device is separate from the pressure supportsystem and includes a display, and a processor apparatus including aprocessor and a memory, the memory storing one or more routinesexecutable by the processor, the one or more routines being adapted to:obtain patient/therapy metric data, wherein the patient/therapy metricdata is formed by processing data measured by the pressure supportsystem during the provision of therapy to the patient, and automaticallygenerate an electronic message for transmission out of the computingdevice based on the patient/therapy metric data.

In another embodiment, a method of establishing an account for a user ofa system for providing information to a patient is provided, wherein thepatient uses a pressure support system structured to provide therapy tothe patient to treat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow ofbreathing gas to the patient. The method includes receiving in acomputing device username information for the user and deviceidentifying information for identifying a component of the pressuregenerating system, transmitting the username information and the deviceidentifying information to a location remote from the computing deviceand the pressure generating system, determining at the remote locationwhether the username information is unique to the system and whether thedevice identifying information is valid, and establishing the accountonly if it is determined that both the username information is unique tothe system and the device identifying information is valid.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the presentinvention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of therelated elements of structure and the combination of parts and economiesof manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for treating sleep disorderedbreathing and monitoring and managing the treatment according to onenon-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pressure support system according toone particular, non-limiting exemplary embodiment that may be used inimplementing the system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of an exemplary portable electronicdevice that may be used in implementing the system of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5-24 are schematic diagrams showing a number of “screen shots” ofa touchscreen display of the portable electronic device of FIGS. 1, 3and 4 that demonstrate the operation and functionality of the softwareapplication/tool of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As usedherein, the statement that two or more parts or components are “coupled”shall mean that the parts are joined or operate together either directlyor indirectly, i.e., through one or more intermediate parts orcomponents, so long as a link occurs. As used herein, “directly coupled”means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. As usedherein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components arecoupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientationrelative to each other.

As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as asingle piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that arecreated separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a“unitary” component or body. As employed herein, the statement that twoor more parts or components “engage” one another shall mean that theparts exert a force against one another either directly or through oneor more intermediate parts or components. As employed herein, the term“number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., aplurality).

Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example and withoutlimitation, top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, back, andderivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown inthe drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expresslyrecited therein.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 2 for treating sleep disorderedbreathing and monitoring and managing the treatment according to onenon-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As seen inFIG. 1, system 2 includes a number of individual components that, asdescribed in greater detail herein, together provide a mechanism for apatient suffering from a sleep disordered breathing condition, such asOSA, to effectively manage their disease and treatment by providingcustomized/personalized education and feedback regarding their diseaseand their specific therapy and by increasing therapy compliance. Inparticular, system 2 includes a pressure support system 4, a centralcomputer system 6, a portable electronic device 8, and a personalcomputer (PC) 10, each of which is described in greater detail below,which together provide a sleep disordered breathing treatment and selfmanagement mechanism.

Pressure support system 4 shown in FIG. 1 is a system structured toprovide positive airway pressure (PAP) support therapy to a patient inorder to treat that patient's sleep disordered breathing condition. Onesuitable non-limiting example of pressure support system 4 that may beused in system 2 is described in detail herein in connection with FIG.2. Central computer system 6 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1comprises a system of one or more server computers and one or moredatabases that are structured and configured to store and processpatient data collected by and received from pressure support system 4(and from similar pressure support systems of other patients) so thatthe data may be accessed by one or more of the patient, the patient'shomecare provider and/or the patient's physician. Portable electronicdevice 8 shown in FIG. 1 is a device such as, without limitation, asmartphone, a tablet PC, or some other portable computing device. Onesuitable example of portable electronic device 8 that may be used insystem 2 is described in detail herein in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.

In addition, as described in detail herein, the present inventionprovides a tool in the form of a software application that may beimplemented on either or both of portable electronic device 8 and PC 10that is configured to, among other things, provide thecustomized/personalized education and feedback noted above to thepatient based, at least in part, on data that is measured by pressuresupport system 4 during the provision of therapy to the patient. Forease of illustration, the tool of the present invention will bedescribed as implemented on an exemplary portable electronic device 8(FIGS. 3 and 4). It will be understood, however, that that particularimplementation is meant to be exemplary only, and that the concepts ofthe present invention, and in particular the software applicationdescribed herein, may be implemented on a portable electronic device 8in other suitable forms and/or in a suitable form on PC 10.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of pressure support system 4 according toone particular, non-limiting exemplary embodiment that may be used inimplementing system 2. Referring to FIG. 2, pressure support system 4includes a gas flow generator 12, such as a blower used in aconventional CPAP or bi-level pressure support device, which receivesbreathing gas, generally indicated by arrow C, from any suitable source,e.g., a pressurized tank of oxygen or air, the ambient atmosphere, or acombination thereof. Gas flow generator 12 generates a flow of breathinggas, such as air, oxygen, or a mixture thereof, for delivery to anairway of patient 14 at relatively higher and lower pressures, i.e.,generally equal to or above ambient atmospheric pressure. Thepressurized flow of breathing gas, generally indicated by arrow D fromgas flow generator 12, is delivered via a delivery conduit 18 to abreathing mask or patient interface 20 of any known construction, whichis typically worn by or otherwise attached to patient 14 to communicatethe flow of breathing gas to the airway of patient 14. Delivery conduit18 and patient interface device 20 are typically collectively referredto as a patient circuit.

Pressure support system 4 shown in FIG. 2 is what is known as asingle-limb system, meaning that the patient circuit includes onlydelivery conduit 18 connecting patient 14 to pressure support system 4.As such, exhaust vent 22 is provided in delivery conduit 18 for ventingexhaled gasses from the system as indicated by arrow E. It should benoted that exhaust vent 22 can be provided at other locations inaddition to or instead of in delivery conduit 18, such as in patientinterface device 20. It should also be understood that exhaust vent 22can have a wide variety of configurations depending on the desiredmanner in which gas is to be vented from pressure support system 4.

The present invention also contemplates that pressure support system 4can be a two-limb system, having a delivery conduit and an exhaustconduit connected to patient 14. In a two-limb system (also referred toas a dual-limb system), the exhaust conduit carries exhaust gas frompatient 14 and includes an exhaust valve at the end distal from patient14. The exhaust valve in such an embodiment is typically activelycontrolled to maintain a desired level or pressure in the system, whichis commonly known as positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP).

Furthermore, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2,patient interface 20 is a nasal/oral mask. It is to be understood,however, that patient interface 20 can include a nasal mask, a pillowsstyle nasal cushion, a cradle style nasal cushion, a full face mask, anyother device that provides a suitable gas flow communicating function.Also, for purposes of the present invention, the phrase “patientinterface” can include delivery conduit 18 and any other structures thatconnect the source of pressurized breathing gas to patient 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, pressure support system 4 includes apressure controller in the form of a valve 24 provided in deliveryconduit 18. Valve 24 controls the pressure of the flow of breathing gasfrom flow generator 12 delivered to patient 14. For present purposes,flow generator 12 and valve 24 are collectively referred to as apressure generating system because they act in concert to control thepressure and/or flow of gas delivered to patient 14. However, it shouldbe apparent that other techniques for controlling the pressure of thegas delivered to patient 14, such as varying the blower speed of flowgenerator 12, either alone or in combination with a pressure controlvalve, are contemplated by the present invention. Thus, valve 24 isoptional depending on the technique used to control the pressure of theflow of breathing gas delivered to patient 14. If valve 24 iseliminated, the pressure generating system corresponds to flow generator12 alone, and the pressure of gas in the patient circuit is controlled,for example, by controlling the motor speed of flow generator 12.

Pressure support system 4 further includes flow sensor 26 that measuresthe flow of the breathing gas within delivery conduit 18. In theparticular embodiment shown in FIG. 2, flow sensor 26 is interposed inline with delivery conduit 18, most preferably downstream of valve 24.Flow sensor 26 generates a flow signal Q_(MEASURED) that is provided tocontroller 28 and is used by controller 28 to determine the flow of gasat patient 14, referred to as Q_(PATIENT). Of course, other techniquesfor measuring the respiratory flow of patient 14 are contemplated by thepresent invention, such as, without limitation, measuring the flowdirectly at patient 14 or at other locations along delivery conduit 18,measuring patient flow based on the operation of flow generator 12, andmeasuring patient flow using a flow sensor upstream of valve 24. Inaddition, it should be noted that flow sensor 26 may be omitted (i.e.,it is optional), and that other techniques may be used to estimate flow.For example, flow may be estimate using motor parameters (e.g. motorcurrent). Furthermore, many aspects of the invention as described hereindo not require flow monitoring per se and could be done with simplemeasurements like blower power consumption or blower hours. Also, mostmodern pressure support system implementations include pressure sensors,which may be used to control the pressure at the outlet of the device(and, by extension, the pressure at the patient) as well as to performother monitoring tasks (e.g. monitor acoustic signal for snoring).

Controller 28 may be, for example, a microprocessor, a microcontrolleror some other suitable processing device, that includes or isoperatively coupled to a memory (not shown) that provides a storagemedium for data and software executable by controller 28 for controllingthe operation of pressure support system 4. Input/output device 30 isprovided for setting various parameters used by pressure support system4, as well as for displaying and outputting information and data to auser, such as a clinician or caregiver.

In the exemplary embodiment, which is a single-limb system, controller28 estimates the leakage of gas from pressure support system 4 using anysuitable technique and incorporates this leak estimation into thedetermination of the actual patient flow. This leak estimation isrequired in a single-limb system, because a single-limb system includesa known leak through the exhaust vent as well as other unknown leaks,such as leaks at the patient contact site of the patient interface andat various conduit couplings on the patient circuit. In a two-limbsystem, leak estimation may not be required, because a flow sensor istypically provided at the exhaust vent to measure, directly, the flow ofexhaust gas. In such a system, the patient flow can be determined bysubtracting the measured exhaust flow from the measured flow deliveredto the patient. It can be appreciated that leak detection can beperformed in a two-limb system to increase the accuracy of the patientflow determination. U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,802 to Sanders et al., U.S. Pat.No. 5,313,937 to Zdrojkowski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,193 to Sanderset al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,269 to Zdrojkowski et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,803,065 to Zdrojkowski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,664 to Zdrojkowskiet al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,875 to Hill et al., the contents of eachof which are incorporated herein by reference, describe how toaccomplish the necessary functions in order to provide separate IPAP andEPAP levels to the patient. These functions include techniques fordetecting and estimating leak, and techniques for detecting therespiratory state of a patient (FE), and managing, e.g., triggering andcycling, the bi-level delivery of breathing gas to the patient in thepresence of leaks. Thus, a detailed discussion of these functions isomitted from the present application for the sake of simplicity andbrevity.

Finally, pressure support system 4 in the exemplary embodiment includesa portable memory device port 32, a short range wireless communicationsmodule 34, and a modem 36, all of which are operatively coupled tocontroller 28. Portable memory device port 32 is structured to enable aportable memory device to be selectively coupled to pressure supportsystem 4 so that data can be written to and read from the portablememory device. In the exemplary embodiment, portable memory device port32 is an SD card port and the portable memory device is an SD card,although other devices/technologies, such as, without limitation, a USBport and a USB-type portable memory device, may also be used. Shortrange wireless communications module 34 is a module that is structuredand configured to enable pressure support system 4 to communicate withother, similarly equipped electronic devices (e.g., portable electronicdevice 8 as described herein) over a short range wireless network. Inthe exemplary embodiment, short range wireless communications module 34is a Bluetooth® module that is structured and configured to enablepressure support system 4 to communicate with other devices over an adhoc Bluetooth® network. In addition, short range wireless communicationsmodule 34 may be incorporated within pressure support system 4, or maybe a module that is selectively connectable to pressure support system 4via a USB port or other suitable connection. Modem 36 is structured andconfigured to enable pressure support system 4 to communicate withcentral computer system 6 over a suitable network, such as the Internet.Modem 36 may employ a wired connection, a wireless connection, or somecombination thereof. It should be noted that, while a number ofdifferent communication methods have been described, in the presentinvention, only at least one method of communicating with portableelectronic device 8 or PC 10 is necessary.

An exemplary portable electronic device 8 that may be used in system 2is indicated generally in FIG. 3 and is depicted schematically in FIG.4. The exemplary portable electronic device 8 is a smartphone andincludes a housing 38, an input apparatus 40 (which in the illustratedembodiment is a button), a touchscreen display 42, and a processorapparatus 44 disposed in housing 38. A user is able to provide inputinto processor apparatus 44 using input apparatus 40 and touchscreendisplay 42. Processor apparatus 44 provides output signals totouchscreen display 42 to enable touchscreen display 42 to displayinformation to the user as described in detail herein.

Processor apparatus 44 comprises a processor 46 and a memory 48.Processor 46 may be, for example and without limitation, amicroprocessor (μP) that interfaces with memory 48. Memory 48 can be anyone or more of a variety of types of internal and/or external storagemedia such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), FLASH,and the like that provide a storage register, i.e., a machine readablemedium, for data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storagearea of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory.Memory 48 has stored therein a number of routines that are executable byprocessor 46. One or more of the routines implement (by way ofcomputer/processor executable instructions) the softwareapplication/tool discussed briefly above and described in greater detailbelow that is configured to, among other things, provide thecustomized/personalized education and feedback to the patient based, atleast in part, on data that is measured by pressure support system 4during the provision of therapy to the patient. In the exemplaryembodiment, that software application/tool, labeled 54 in FIG. 4 forease of reference, may be downloaded to portable electronic device 8from any suitable source, such as an online “app store.”

As seen in FIG. 4, portable electronic device 8 also includes a shortrange wireless communications module 50 that is structured andconfigured to enable portable electronic device 8 to communicate withother, similarly equipped electronic devices, including pressure supportsystem 4, over a short range wireless network. As noted elsewhereherein, in the exemplary embodiment, short range wireless communicationsmodule 50 is a Bluetooth® module that that is structured and configuredto enable portable electronic device 8 to communicate with pressuresupport system 4 over an ad hoc Bluetooth® network. Portable electronicdevice 8 also includes a long range wireless communications module 52(e.g., a modem) that is structured and configured to enable portableelectronic device 8 to communicate with central computer system 6 over asuitable network, such as the Internet. In the exemplary embodiment,portable electronic device 8 communicates wirelessly with centralcomputer system 6, although a wired connection is also possible. Inaddition, portable electronic device 8 may also include one or moreadditional modules/components that provide additional functionality. Forexample, and without limitation, portable electronic device 8 mayinclude a digital camera (e.g., for barcode reading and/or imagecapturing for component identification as described herein) and/or otherI/O components, such as, without limitation, a microphone, a speakerand/or other audio I/O components for used in playing videos asdescribed herein.

As noted above, portable electronic device 8 implements a softwareapplication/tool 54 that is configured to, among other things, providecustomized/personalized education and feedback to the patient based, atleast in part, on data that is measured by pressure support system 4during the provision of therapy to the patient. As described in greaterdetail herein, that software application/tool 54 utilizes certainpatient/therapy metrics, wherein each patient/therapy metric comprisesraw data that was measured by pressure support system 4 and that hasbeen processed (e.g., summarized and/or otherwise manipulated) to formthe patient/therapy metric. In the non-limiting exemplary embodimentdescribed herein to illustrate the present invention, the processing ofthe raw data into the patient/therapy metrics occurs at central computersystem 6, with the patient/therapy metric data then being provided toportable electronic device 8 for use by software application/tool 54(the patient/therapy metric data is transmitted over a long rangenetwork to long range wireless communications module 52 of portableelectronic device 8). It will be understood, however, that such aconfiguration is exemplary only, and that, in alternative embodiments,the processing of the raw data into the patient/therapy metrics mayoccur in other components/locations, such as, without limitation, inpressure support system 4, in PC 10, in portable electronic device 8, orin some combination thereof.

Referring again to the non-limiting exemplary embodiment described abovewherein the processing of the raw data into the patient/therapy metricsoccurs at central computer system 6, there thus must be a way for theraw data to periodically (e.g., daily) be provided to central computersystem 6. In the exemplary embodiment of system 2, this may be done inany of the following three ways. First, the raw data may be transmitteddirectly from pressure support system 4 to central computer system 6using modem 36. Alternatively, the raw data may be transmitted frompressure support system 4 to portable electronic device 8 over a shortrange wireless network (Bluetooth® in the exemplary embodiment) usingshort range wireless communications module 34 of pressure support system4 and short range wireless communications module 50 of portableelectronic device 8. The raw data may then be transmitted from portableelectronic device 8 to central computer system 6 over a long rangenetwork using long range wireless communications module 52 of portableelectronic device 8. As another alternative, the raw data may betransferred from pressure support system 4 to PC 10 using a portablememory device (an SD card in the exemplary embodiment). The raw data maythen be transmitted from PC 10 to central computer system 6 over asuitable network, such as the Internet. As described in detail herein,the user of software application/tool 54 is able to specify which ofthese data transfer methodologies they prefer to use.

The operation and functionality of software application/tool 54according to one exemplary embodiment will now be described in detail.In the following description, that operation and functionality will bedescribed in conjunction with a number of “screen shots” of touchscreendisplay 42 of portable electronic device 8 which each comprise a stateof touchscreen display 42 as determined by software application/tool 54.As noted elsewhere herein, the operation and functionality of softwareapplication/tool 54 may also be implemented, in a suitable form, on PC10, and thus the display of PC 10, in such an implementation, may becaused to display the same or similar “screen shots”.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a login screen 60 of softwareapplication/tool 54 that is displayed whenever a user launches softwareapplication/tool 54. If a user has already established an account, theuser can login to software application/tool 54 by entering his or herestablished account information, including email address and password,in boxes 62 and 64 and selecting login button 66. If, however, the useris a new user of software application/tool 54 without an establishedaccount, the user may select the “Create New Account” link 68. Inresponse to selection of the “Create New Account” link 68, softwareapplication/tool 54 will cause a create new account screen 70 shown inFIG. 6 to be displayed. In order to create a new account, the user mustenter certain information into create new account screen 70. Inparticular, the user must enter his or her name into boxes 72 and 74 andhis or her email address into box 76. In the exemplary embodiment, theemail address that is entered must be unique to system 2 and is used asthe user's “username.” The user is also required to enter a “DeviceNumber” into box 78. The “Device Number” is the serial number of thepressure generating component of pressure support system 4 being used bythe user in system 2. The “Device Number” may be entered manually by theuser (i.e., typed in using touchscreen display 42) or may be scannedusing a barcode provided on pressure support system 4 and a suitablebarcode scanning/reading application loaded onto portable electronicdevice 8 or provided as part of software application/tool 54. In theillustrated, exemplary embodiment, such a barcode scanning/readingapplication is triggered by selecting scan button 79 shown in FIG. 6.Other methods of obtaining/entering the “Device Number” are alsocontemplated, such as, without limitation, capturing an image of theserial number portable electronic device 8 and using optical characterrecognition (e.g., in an application loaded onto portable electronicdevice 8 or provided as part of software application/tool 54) to extractthe “Device Number” or a Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi scan of the local area toload the “Device Number.” In the exemplary embodiment, the entered“Device Number” does not need to be unique in system 2. Rather, it maybe for a device that has been “recycled,” meaning that it was previouslyused with a first, prior email address (username) and is now being usedwith another, current email address (username). System 2 does, however,in the exemplary embodiment require that the entered “Device Number” berecognized by system 2 as being valid, meaning that it falls within apredetermined range of a known model pressure support system 4. The useris also required to enter and confirm a password to be used with his orher account in boxes 80 and 82 shown in FIG. 6. Thus, when a userattempts to create an account by entering the information (including anemail address and “Device Number”) as just described (and selectingsubmit button 84), central computer system 6 will check whether theemail address is unique and whether the “Device Number” is valid, andwill authorize the creation of the account only if it is determined thatthe email address is unique and that the “Device Number” is valid. Ifeither of these checks fail, the user may be informed of the issue andmay be redirected to a help portion of software application/tool 54 orto a help website.

During the first use of software application/tool 54 by the user, aftercreating a new account as just described, a first use screen 86 will bedisplayed on touchscreen display 42 as seen in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG.7, the user will be asked whether this is the first time they have usedpressure support system 4 (i.e., whether this is their first therapysession). If they indicate “Yes” by selecting button 88, softwareapplication/tool 54 will proceed to the “First Night Guide” portionthereof that is described in detail below. If they indicate “No” byselecting button 90, they will be given the opportunity to still proceedto the “First Night Guide” portion by selecting either button 92 or 94.

The “First Night Guide” portion of software application/tool 54 isdesigned to provide education to the user regarding his or herparticular sleep disordered breathing condition (e.g., OSA) andregarding the particulars of the pressure support system 4 he or she isgoing to be using to provide PAP therapy. In a first section of the“First Night Guide” portion, a first night videos screen 96 is providedon touchscreen display 42 as seen in FIG. 8. First night videos screen96 provides links to a number of videos relating to the user's sleepdisordered breathing condition and treatment therefor that may beaccessed by the user by selecting an associated icon 98. In theexemplary embodiment, each of the icons 98 is a link to a site (e.g., athird party content sharing sited such as, without limitation, YouTube®or a site maintained by the provider of software application/tool 54 orpressure generating system 4 or by a healthcare provider or a durablemedical equipment (DME) supplier) where the video may be accessed. Aswill be appreciated, the actual video that is accessed via the link maybe updated/changed dynamically (i.e., the content may be dynamicallyupdated). Also in the exemplary embodiment, software application/tool 54recommends, via banner 100, that the user play at least one video inorder to advance to the next section of the “First Night Guide” portion.Selecting a skip button 102 enables the user to skip this first section.A progress bar 104 is displayed on first night videos screen 96indicating to the user the number of steps that remain in the “FirstNight Guide” portion. In addition, as seen in FIG. 8, once a video isviewed, a “check” icon indicates its completion. Also, once a video isviewed, a next button 106 is provided to enable the user to advance tothe next section of the “First Night Guide” portion.

In a second section of the “First Night Guide” portion, called the “MaskGuide” section, the user indicates to software application/tool 54 thetype of breathing mask or patient interface 20 (FIG. 2) that he or sheis using in pressure support system 4, and based on that information,software application/tool 54 provides information to the user regardingthe particular breathing mask or patient interface 20. This process isillustrated in FIG. 9, which shows the progression through a number ofexemplary mask guide screens 108 provided on touchscreen display 42. Asseen in FIG. 9, a first mask guide screen 108A provides a listing 110 ofdifferent mask types (e.g. nasal, pillows, full face) for the user toselect from. A banner 112 instructs the user to select their mask typefrom the listing 110. Once a mask type from listing 110 is selected, asecond mask guide screen 108B provides a listing 114 of particular maskmodels (e.g., by brand name or manufacturer/model no.) for the user tochoose from. A banner 116 instructs the user to select their mask modelfrom the listing 114. Once a mask model from listing 114 is selected, athird mask guide screen 108C provides an image 118 of the selected maskmodel. A button 120 is provided on third mask guide screen 108C toenable the user to set the mask model if correct. Responsive toselecting button 120 (i.e., setting the particular mask model), a fourthmask guide screen 108D is provided that includes a mask guide 122 thatis selected based on and corresponds to the set mask model (i.e., oncethe mask model is set, a call is made in software application/tool 54accessing the appropriate mask guide 122). Mask guide 122 providesinformation relating to the set mask model and the use thereof, and mayinclude, without limitation, text, photos, drawings, step by stepinstructions and/or videos. Fourth mask guide screen 108D also includesa done button 124 that, when selected, enables the user to advance tothe next section of the “First Night Guide” portion.

In the illustrated embodiment described above, the mask type and modelis specified using manual user input. In alternative embodiments, masktype and model may be discovered/recognized automatically using a numberof different technologies, such as, without limitation, reading a barcode provided on mask or patient interface 20 using portable electronicdevice 8, or capturing a digital image of the mask or patient interface20 using portable electronic device 8 (i.e., with a digital cameraprovided therein) and using recognition software provided on portableelectronic device 8 to identify the mask type and model from thecaptured image. In addition, other components of pressure support system4 (e.g., the gas delivery hose, a humidifier, one or more filters, etc.)may also be identified to software application/tool 54 by manual entryand/or automatic discovery/recognition as just described. Otherparticular methods of component identification are also possible, suchas, without limitation, using photos (images) of packaging material,photos (images) of a gas delivery hose, QR barcodes, text recognition ona hose/mask, searching for Bluetooth® or other wireless-enabled masks,and identification of components (e.g., mask) through querying thepressure generating device (e.g. CPAP) if it has already knowledge ofthe component.

In a third section of the “First Night Guide” portion, called the“Device Guide” section, software application/tool 54 providesinformation to the user in a device guide screen or screens 126regarding operation and use of the particular pressure generating device(the components in the dotted lines of FIG. 2) of pressure supportsystem 4. As seen in FIG. 10, device guide screen (or screens) 126includes a device guide 128 that is selected based on the “DeviceNumber” information that was provided by the user during creation of theuser's account. Device guide 128 may include, without limitation, text,photos, drawings, step by step instructions and/or videos. Device guidescreen (or screens) 126 also includes a done button 130 that, whenselected, enables the user to advance to the next portion of softwareapplication/tool 54, which, as described below, is the “home” screen forthe software application/tool 54, also referred to as the “sleep”screen.

FIG. 11 shows the sleep screen 130A of software application/tool 54 inthe illustrated exemplary embodiment. For first time users, sleep screen130A as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed after completion of the “FirstNight Guide” portion. It is at this point that the user is able todetermine how, in the exemplary embodiment, the raw data from pressuresupport device 4 is periodically provided to central computer system 6so that it can be processed into the patient/therapy metrics asdescribed elsewhere herein. In particular, as seen in FIG. 11, the sleepscreen 130A at this stage includes a message 132 indicating to the userthat a data connection method for their pressure support device 4 mustbe established, and a message 134, that may be selected by the user, ifthe user would like to learn more about the different data connectionmethods. In order to select a data connection method, the user mustselect (“tap”) message 132. When the user does so, data connectionscreen 136A shown in FIG. 12 is provided on touchscreen display 42. Byselecting a next button 138, the user is able to proceed to dataconnection screen 136B shown in FIG. 12. Data connection screen 136Bincludes three buttons/messages 140A, 140B, 140C, one for each differentdata connection method of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment.

More specifically, button/message 140A is for data connection whereinshort range wireless communication (Bluetooth® in the illustratedembodiment) between pressure support device 4 and portable electronicdevice 8 is employed. If button/message 140A is selected, setup screen142 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed that includes information about thatdata connection method and a button 144 wherein a user may select thatdata connection method as the established method for system 2.Button/message 140B is for data connection wherein transfer of datausing a portable memory device (SD card in the illustrated embodiment)between pressure support device 4 and PC 10 is employed. Ifbutton/message 140B is selected, setup screen 146 shown in FIG. 12 isdisplayed that includes information about that data connection methodand a button 148 wherein a user may select that data connection methodas the established method for system 2. Button/message 140C is for dataconnection wherein transfer of data from pressure support system 4 tocentral computer system 6 using a modem is employed. If button/message140C is selected, setup screen 150 shown is FIG. 12 is displayed thatincludes information about that data connection method and a button 152wherein a user may select that data connection method as the establishedmethod for system 2.

Data connection screen 136B may also include options (i.e., otherbuttons/messages) for other data connection methods, such as Wi-Fi oranother wireless connection option. In addition, softwareapplication/tool 54 may be adapted/configured for suggesting the “best”connection method for the user given the particulars of pressure supportsystem 4 or other parts of system 2. For example, a message/button maybe provided on data connection screen 136B wherein, when selected by theuser, the “best” connection method for the user given the particulars ofpressure support system 4 or other parts of system 2 will be suggestedto the user on display 42. In one embodiment, the suggested “best”connection method may be based on the known capabilities of thepreviously identified (as described herein) pressure support system 4and portable electronic device 8. For example, if the “Device Number”(e.g., serial number) of pressure support system 4 indicates thatpressure support system 4 has Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi capability andportable electronic device 8 also has Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi capability,then software application/tool 54 will suggest discovering pressuresupport system 4 over Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi and selecting that as theestablished data connection method). If the “Device Number” (e.g.,serial number) of pressure support system 4 indicates that pressuresupport system 4 does not support Bluetooth®/Wi-Fi/etc, then softwareapplication/tool 54 will suggest the SD card option as the “best”connection option. As another example, in response to selection of themessage/button for suggesting a “best” connection method, portableelectronic device 8 would be caused to wirelessly search to see if thereis a nearby pressure generating device (e.g., part of pressure supportsystem 4) available on Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, or some other wirelessnetwork, and if so, software application/tool 54 will suggest selectingthat as the established data connection method.

Once a data connection method is selected as just described, softwareapplication/tool 54 will display sleep screen 130B as shown in FIG. 13.In addition, sleep screen 130B is the screen that will be displayed eachtime after first use (i.e., after initial set up as described above)that the user launches software application/tool 54 and logs in to hisor her account. Thus, after first use (i.e., after initial set up),sleep screen 130B functions as the home screen for softwareapplication/tool 54. As seen in FIG. 13, sleep screen 130B includes twomain areas, a metrics area 154 and a dynamic messaging area 156.

In metrics area 154, sleep screen 130B displays information relating tocertain patient/therapy metrics generated in the exemplary embodiment bycentral computer system 6. In the illustrated, exemplary embodiment, thefollowing three patient/therapy metrics are employed and informationrelating thereto is displayed in metrics area 154: (i) a mask fitmetric, which is a fit percentage that is determined based on the amountof mask leak that is detected by pressure support system 4, (ii) atherapy metric, which indicates the length of use, in hours, of pressuresupport device 4 by the user during a period of sleep (e.g., a night)and that is determined based on usage data detected by pressure supportsystem 4, and (iii) an AHI metric, which is an apnea/hypopnea index fora period of sleep (e.g., a night) that is determined based on datameasured by pressure support system 4. As is known in the art, theapnea/hypopnea index is calculated by dividing the number of events(apnea or hypopnea) by the number of hours of sleep. It will beunderstood that the three metrics described above are meant to beexemplary only, and that other, different patient/therapy metrics inplace of and/or in addition to those described above may be employedwithin the scope of the present invention. In sleep screen 130B, themetric value for the most recent period of sleep (e.g., the prior night)is displayed in metrics area 154.

In addition, a user may access the history for any of the individualmetrics by selecting (e.g., pressing and holding) the button area 155beneath the metric that includes the graphical icon. This isdemonstrated for the therapy metric in FIG. 14, which shows sleep screen130C. As seen in FIG. 14, in the illustrated embodiment, if eightperiods (e.g., eight days) or more of data is available, the therapymetric for fourteen periods (e.g., fourteen days) of usage is shown ingraphical form. If less than eight periods (e.g., eight days) of data isavailable, the therapy metric for the period of usage over which data isavailable (e.g., seven periods (e.g., seven days) of usage) is shown ingraphical form. A target line 158 for the metric (which represents apredetermined target value for the metric) is provided for quickreference by the user. In the exemplary embodiment, the target for thetherapy metric is driven as follows: first seven periods/days, target=2hrs; every seven days after, target=1.2×(previous seven periods/daystotal usage)/7; target no longer shown when target=7 hrs. Similarhistory data and targets may be displayed for the mask fit and AHImetrics.

As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, dynamic messaging area 156 includes ascalable list of dynamic messages 158. In the illustrated embodiment,each dynamic message 158 contains two lines of text and may include alink triggering another portion of software application/tool 54 and/orproviding access to additional content, such as third party videocontent.

For example, a dynamic message 158 may indicate problem or issue withuse of pressure support system 4 based on one or more of thepatient/therapy metrics and may provide information and/or a link to asolution for the problem. For instance, if the mask fit metric isdetermined to be below a certain threshold level (e.g., <75%), a dynamicmessage 158 may inform the user of the problem (“It seems you have apoor mask fit”) and provide a link that triggers a troubleshootingsection/guide of software application/tool 54 (described elsewhereherein) that would provide instructions, links to videos or relevantonline discussion forums (e.g., selected message boards), and/or otherinformation on how to address the leak issue. Alternatively, if thetherapy metric is determined to be below a certain threshold level(e.g., <2 hr), that may indicate that the user is having issues withmask fit and/or comfort (e.g., pressure points, red marks, maskinstability, tubing issues) and/or therapy comfort (difficulty exhaling,difficulty falling asleep, side effects such as dry or wet nose, nasalcongestion, gassy bloated feeling, frequent wakes ups). In response, adynamic message 158 may be provided informing the user of the problem(“It seems your usage is low. This may be due to . . . ”) and providinga link that triggers the troubleshooting section/guide of softwareapplication/tool 54 that would provide instructions, links to videos orrelevant online discussion forums (e.g., selected message boards),and/or other information on how to address the usage issue. According toan aspect of the exemplary embodiment, the troubleshooting would becustomized based on the particular equipment of pressure support system4 that has been set/specified as described elsewhere herein (e.g., thetroubleshooting section/guide would be specific to the mask type andmodel number that has been previously set). For example, the user may bepresented with links to online discussion forums (e.g., message boards)that are particular to the user's equipment.

In another example, a dynamic message 158 may indicate that a new targetfor a patient/therapy metric has been set (the new target may be listedor a link to the new target may be provided) or that a customized goal(described elsewhere herein) for a patient/therapy metric has beenachieved.

In still another example, a dynamic message 158 may provide anotification that a component (e.g., the mask or patient interface 20 ordelivery conduit 18, or an accessory such as a humidifier or filter) ofpressure support system 4 needs to be cleaned, serviced and/or replaced.Such notifications may be based simply on the passage of time (e.g., amonth) or may be based on total actual usage parameters (e.g., a certainnumber of hours of actual use), and may be custom set by the user or aDME supplier, or may be default settings in software application/tool54. In addition, such notifications may provide a link to orderingoptions (for example, selecting the notification press pushes the userto a DME-specific ordering website or pushes an automatic order(electronic) to a predetermined DME supplier).

In yet another example, a dynamic message 158 may contain arecommendation to watch one or more videos or to access and use thedevice guide and/or mask guide portions of software application/tool 54(again, customized for the particular equipment of pressure supportsystem 4 that has been set/specified as described elsewhere herein). Thecontent of such a dynamic message 158 may be updated over time by eitherthe provider of software application/tool 54 or by a DME supplier sothat the content (the specific video content or the specific deviceguide and/or mask guide content) is not stale and can be customized perthe relevant DME supplier. Also, a dynamic message 158 may be used foradvertising for components for use in pressure generating system 4(e.g., newest mask designs . . . “let us show you the latest full facemask available . . . ”).

In yet another example, a dynamic message 158 may contain suggestionsmade on the patient/therapy metrics generated in the exemplaryembodiment by central computer system 6 (e.g., the monitored AHI) or onany other monitored parameter from pressure support system 4 thatcorresponds to the possible physiological condition of the patient. Forexample, if the patient is showing a much higher percent of the night inCheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) recently or has a higher AHI or anyother monitored parameter, software application/tool 54 may beconfigured to generate a dynamic message 158 that encourages the patientto either contact their physician or DME supplier and/or that pushes thepatient towards a questionnaire (e.g. Are you short of breath?, Do youhave trouble breathing while walking?) that then leads to contactingtheir physician if the monitored parameter(s) and the questionnairesuggest a high probability of a worsening medical condition (e.g.asthma, pulmonary edema, etc.).

In addition, as seen in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14, among others, a navigationsection 160 is provided at the bottom of touchscreen display 42.Navigation section 160 includes a number of tabs (labeled “Sleep”,“Goals”, “Learn”, “Coaching” and “Care” in the illustrated embodiment),wherein each tab corresponds to a major portion of softwareapplication/tool 54. Selection of those tabs allows the user toselectively navigate to those portions of software application/tool 54.Thus, selection of the “Sleep” tab will take the user to the sleepscreen 130B (FIG. 13).

According to a further aspect, software application/tool 54 alsoincludes a “Goals” portion wherein a user is able to set goals based onthe patient/therapy metrics and track progress toward those goals. Theuser may access the “Goals” portion by selecting the “Goals” tab ofnavigation section 160. A goals screen 162A, as shown in FIG. 15, isdisplayed on touchscreen display 42 when the “Goals” tab is selected.Goals screen 162A includes a navigation section 164 having tabs thatenable navigation among the various sections of the “Goals” portiondescribed below.

In the “My Goals” section, a number of goal sections 166 are displayed.Each goal section 166 corresponds to a specific goal that is based onthe patient/therapy metrics, and each goal section includes a progressbar 168 which track progress toward those goals. In the exemplaryembodiment, four different predetermined goal categories are utilized(shown in FIG. 15) and the user is able to custom set the goal value foreach category. Those goal categories are: (i) # days with 4+ hrs of useof pressure support system 4 in month, (ii) consecutive days of use ofpressure support system 4, (iii) consecutive days with 4+ hrs of use ofpressure support system 4, and (iv) consecutive days of use of pressuresupport system 4 with >75% mask fit. It will be appreciated that othergoal categories are also possible. In the exemplary embodiment, eachprogress bar 168 in each goal section 166 is updated periodically (e.g.,each day) based on the metrics data that is received from centralcomputing system 6. In the exemplary embodiment, the user is able to setand change goal values for each goal section 166 using a set goal screen170 as shown in FIG. 16. Each set goal screen 170 may be accessed byselecting the corresponding goal section 166, and the “−” and “+”buttons 171 and 173, respectively, may be used to adjust the goalvalues. Alternatively, software application/tool 54 may be configured toautomatically set goals based on data measured by pressure supportsystem 4 and/or prior patient/therapy metric value.

Referring to FIG. 17, when a goal in a goal section 166 is achieved, amessage 172 is provided on goals screen 162A that includes a done button174 and an achievement icon (e.g., a cup) 176. In the exemplaryembodiment, if the user selects (presses) done button 174 provided ongoals screen 162A, achievement icon 176 animates into the achievementtab of navigation section 164 as shown in FIG. 18. When the user selectsthe achievement tab of navigation section 164, a list 178 of all of theachieved goals is provided on goal screen 162B shown in FIG. 19. As seenin FIG. 19, each achieved goal is provided in an associated achievedgoal section 180 which, in the exemplary embodiment, describes theachieved goal. As shown in FIG. 19, selecting any particular achievedgoal section 180 activates a menu 182 that includes two action icons,namely a mail icon 184 and a trash icon 186. As shown in FIG. 20,selecting mail icon 184 activates an email application of portableelectronic device 8 and causes an email message 188 addressed to apreselected recipient or recipients to be pre-populated with a messageindicating that the user has achieved the particular goal. Thus, theuser is able to designate one or more individuals (e.g., a family membersuch as a parent or child or a friend) who are to receive news of suchachievements so that they can be kept abreast of the actual use ofpressure support system 4 and the therapy being received by the user. Inan alternative embodiment, additional icons can be provided forautomatically generating and posting messages (e.g., a message 190 shownin FIG. 21) indicating that the user has achieved the particular goal onsocial media outlets/sites, such as, without limitation, Twitter® andFacebook®, or for automatically generating and sending a message (to oneor more predetermined individuals) using an alternative electronicmessaging service such as the short message service message (SMS) or themultimedia messaging service (MMS). Selecting trash icon 186 causes theassociated achieved goal section 180 to be deleted.

In addition to the achievement of goals as just described, other therapyinformation, such as, without limiting, the patient/therapy metricsdescribed herein, may be automatically and periodically emailed to oneor more individuals (i.e., a third party outside of the patient, homecare provider and physician) and/or posted to a social media outlet/siteby portable electronic device 8.

According to still a further aspect, software application/tool 54 alsoincludes a “Learn” portion wherein a user is able to obtain informationabout his or her sleep disordered breathing condition and/or pressuresupport system 4 that they are using to treat that condition. The usermay access the “Learn” portion by selecting the “Learn” tab ofnavigation section 160. A learn screen 192A, as shown in FIG. 22, isdisplayed on touchscreen display 42 when the “Learn” tab is selected.Learn screen 192A includes a navigation section 194 having tabs(“Apnea”, “Equipment” and “Troubleshoot”) that enable navigation amongthe various sections of the “Learn” portion described below.

When the “Apnea” tab is selected, a list 196 as shown in FIG. 22comprising a number of links to educational videos and/or documentsrelating to the user's sleep disordered breathing condition (e.g., OSA)is provided. Similarly, when the “Equipment” tab is selected, a list 198as shown in FIG. 23 (on learn screen 192B) comprising a number of linksto educational videos and/or documents relating to the particularcomponents of pressure support system 4 being used by the user (as setby the user as described elsewhere herein) is provided. In addition, asseen in FIG. 23, list 198 also includes links to the “Device Guide” and“Mask Guide” sections of software application/tool 54 describedelsewhere herein. Again, the “Device Guide” and “Mask Guide” sectionswill be particular to the components of pressure support system 4 beingused by the user as set by the user as described elsewhere herein. Whenthe “Troubleshoot” tab is selected, the user will be guided by softwareapplication/tool 54 through a hierarchy of options for addressingvarious issues that the user may be experiencing during therapy usingpressure support system 4 that ends up on either a video link or adocument. In the exemplary embodiment, the issues that may be addressed(and for which suggested solutions are provided) include mask leak, maskdiscomfort, mask removal during sleep, mask instability, pressurepoints/marks on the user's face, difficulty exhaling, difficulty fallingasleep, insufficient therapy pressure, tubing issues such as limitedmovement and heavy feel, and side effects such as dry or wet nose, nasalcongestion, gassy bloated feeling, and/or frequent wakes ups. Accordingto an aspect of the exemplary embodiment, the troubleshooting would becustomized based on the particular equipment of pressure support system4 that has been set/specified as described elsewhere herein (e.g., thetroubleshooting would be specific to the mask type and model number thathas been previously set or the model of the pressure generating deviceof pressure support system 4).

In yet another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, softwareapplication/tool 54 also includes a “Coaching” portion whereinMotivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is employed to encourage bettertherapy compliance by the user. The user may access the “Coaching”portion by selecting the “Coaching” tab of navigation section 160. The“Coaching” portion employs proprietary techniques aimed at increasingcompliance by asking patient specific questions about their motivationto use pressure support therapy and delivering the patient's own answersback to them once they begin their treatment. The “Coaching” portionwill guide the patient through a specific protocol at predetermined“virtual interventions.” In the exemplary embodiment, the virtualinterventions occur when it has been determined, based on the therapymetric, that the patient has used pressure support system 4 less than acertain amount of time (e.g., 2 hrs.) during the previous relevantperiod. Also in the exemplary embodiment, the following three METtechniques will be incorporated: (i) motivation, wherein at a virtualintervention point (e.g., the first time the patient's usage is low) thepatient's motivation to use sleep therapy is rated on a 1-10 scale, andthen the patient is questioned about the rating and, in particular,their main motivation for using therapy, (ii) heart risk, wherein atanother virtual intervention point (e.g., the second time the patient'susage is low) the patient is educated using a study comparing mortalityrates of patients, and then the patient is questioned about how the datafrom the study impacted them, and (iii) feelings, wherein at anothervirtual intervention point (e.g., the third time the patient's usage islow) the patient is shown a video clip of an actual patient experiencingan apnea event, and then the patient is questioned about how the videomade them feel. Thereafter, according to an aspect of softwareapplication/tool 54, when it is determined, based on the therapy metric,that the patient has used pressure support system 4 less than a certainamount of time (e.g., 2 hrs.) during the previous relevant period, thepatient may be provided with reminder/notifications of one or more of(i) their main motivation for using therapy (as entered by them), (ii)their statements about how the data from the study impacted them (asentered by them), and (iii) their statements about how the video of thepatient suffering an actual apnea made them feel.

In still another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, softwareapplication/tool 54 also includes a “Care” portion wherein the patient'shome care provider may choose to provide a mechanism (e.g., branded withtheir logo) by which the patient is able to contact them directly. Theuser may access the “Care” portion by selecting the “Care” tab ofnavigation section 160. In the illustrated embodiment, when the userselects the “Care” tab of navigation section 160, a care screen 200 asshown in FIG. 24 is provided on touchscreen display 42. Care screen 200includes a call button 202 and an email button 204. Selecting callbutton 202 activates a phone application of portable electronic device 8and causes a phone call to be made to the user's home care provider.Selecting email button 204 activates an email application of portableelectronic device 8 and causes an email to the home care provider'semail address to be generated, with a portion that may be filled in bythe user to include a question, etc.

Thus, as described in detail herein, system 2 provides any easy to use,software based mechanism for a patient suffering from a condition thatrequires use of a respiratory therapy device (e.g., a sleep disorderedbreathing condition, such as OSA, CSA, CSR, COPD, or a condition thatrequires home ventilation therapy) to effectively manage their conditionand treatment by providing customized/personalized education andfeedback regarding their condition and their specific therapy whereinuse of the mechanism is likely to increase therapy compliance andtherefore improve treatment.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall notbe construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” or “including”does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than thoselisted in a claim. In a device claim enumerating several means, severalof these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. Theword “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of aplurality of such elements. In any device claim enumerating severalmeans, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same itemof hardware. The mere fact that certain elements are recited in mutuallydifferent dependent claims does not indicate that these elements cannotbe used in combination.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration based on what is currently considered to be the mostpractical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that suchdetail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limitedto the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to covermodifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood thatthe present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one ormore features of any embodiment can be combined with one or morefeatures of any other embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of establishing an account for a user ofin a system for providing information to a patient, wherein the patientuses a pressure support system structured to provide therapy to thepatient to treat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow ofbreathing gas to the patient, comprising: receiving in a computingdevice username information for the user and device identifyinginformation for identifying a component of the pressure generatingsystem; transmitting the username information and the device identifyinginformation to a location remote form the computing device and thepressure generating system; determining at the remote location whetherthe username information is unique to the system and whether the deviceidentifying information is valid; and establishing the account only ifit is determined that both the username information is unique to thesystem and the device identifying information is valid.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the username information comprises anemail address for the user.
 3. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe determining whether the device identifying information is validcomprises determining whether the device identifying information fallswithin a predetermined expected range for a known model of the componentof the pressure generating system.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the device identifying information is one of: (i) manuallyentered into the computing device, and (ii) obtained automatically bythe computing device from the component.
 5. The method according toclaim 4, wherein in the case of (ii), the device identifying informationis obtained by one of reading a barcode provided on the computingdevice, processing an electronic image of the barcode, or processing anelectronic image of the component.
 6. The method according to claim 1,wherein the device identifying information is received in the computingdevice directly from the pressure generating system responsive to thepressure generating system being prompted to transmit the deviceidentifying information by the computing device.